From the desk of Coach Gary Bailey: “Recently, I was talking to Paul Nelson (2010 graduate) and asked him to send me some updates of what he has been up to. What he sent me was incredible and I wanted to share it on our website. Here it is. Make sure you check out the attached links. Some great stories about Paul. We are very proud of Paul and his accomplishments.”
Video: USA Basketball – CISM 2011 World Games in Brazil [HQ]
http://www.army.mil/article/62275/Six_Soldiers_help_Team_USA_win_basketball_bronze_at_Military_World_Games/ http://www.rio2011.mil.br/results/ENG/BK/BKR151A_BKM40040020100001ENG.htm http://www.rio2011.mil.br/results/ENG/BK/BKR185B_BKM400400@@@@@@@@ENG.htm
-We had a 2 week training camp ( compare to months and years together that the other countries have had together as a team) at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas to get familiar with the other players and to learn our offenses and defenses that we were going to run in Brazil. We played four pro teams down in Texas to prepare for game time experience. We won those games.
-We had 12 players selected out of the Armed Forces – Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. 8 players from division I schools, 2 players from West Point, 4 players from the Air Force Academy, 1 player from Georgia Southwestern University, 1 player from Hampton University, 2 players form division II schools and 1 from Grace Bible College.
-The world games were from July 16th -July 24th. FIBA internationl rules and regulations applied
-12 countries competed in the world games: Greece, Cyprus, Trinidad, Tobago, Canada, Italy, Kazakhstan, Qatar, Uzbekistan, Lithuania, Brazil, South Korea and the USA. -The players from the other countries were professionals, national team players and some who played division I college basketball here in the states. A few players from Brazil played at BYU.
-From the start of the games until the end of the games, we played every single day. 8 games in 8 days and went 7-1.
-I led the USA team with 23 points in the Bronze Medal game to beat South Korea 84-83 to bring home the Bronze Medal for the USA.
-I avgeraged 10 points a game
-I ranked 3rd overall with total made baskets and 3 point % out of 144 players, the 3 point line is 23 ’9 in international competition.
Future events coming up:
-at the end of November, I will be Going to Germany for the SHAPE basketball tournament with Team USA.
-I am also in contact with Finland to compete on their national team next summer in the 2012 Olympics in London, pending if they qualify for the games this summer. I am half Finnish from my mom’s side of the family.
